At a Glance
- Tasks: Master B2B sales, prospect leads, and book high-quality meetings with decision-makers.
- Company: CBTax is the UK's fastest-growing R&D tax consultancy, working with innovative companies across various sectors.
- Benefits: Earn ÂŁ25k base plus uncapped commission, enjoy private healthcare, and access tech perks.
- Why this job: Fast-track your sales career with real-world training and exposure to high-value clients from day one.
- Qualifications: Confident communicators with a competitive edge and a desire for real career progression are ideal.
- Other info: This isn't just a job; it's a chance to thrive in a high-performance environment.
The predicted salary is between 25000 - 35000 ÂŁ per year.
Role: Business Development Associate – Grads wanted
Location: Manchester, Spinningfields
Salary: ÂŁ25,000 + uncapped commission.
Start Date: September 2025 intake
Who Are CBTax?
CBTax is the UK and Ireland’s fastest-growing specialist R&D tax consultancy firm. We work with ambitious and innovative companies across a wide range of sectors from advanced engineering firms designing the future of infrastructure, to high-tech manufacturers reinventing how things are built, to pioneering software companies and life sciences teams pushing the boundaries of what\’s possible in health, energy, and sustainability.
Why This Programme Exists:
Sales is one of the most powerful career foundations, and R&D tax is one of the most exciting, fast-growth niches. We built this programme to give smart, hungry graduates the fastest route into a high-performance sales career, with real-world training, uncapped earnings, and exposure to high-value clients from Day 1.
What You\’ll Actually Do
You\’ll be trained to learn the fundamentals of B2B sales in a professional services environment. Expect to:
- Master the art of selling– Get expert training in consultative selling, objection handling, R&D tax, and high-impact outreach techniques
- Find new opportunities – Prospect leads, identify decision-makers, and open conversations with business owners, directors and C-suite professionals
- Book high-quality meetings – Your main metric is pipeline: qualifying leads and booking valuable meetings
- Structure your day like a pro – Learn how to prioritise outreach, manage your time, and use tech (Salesforce, sequencing tools, LinkedIn) to amplify results
- Refine your pitch – Use real client and peer feedback to improve every week
- Soak up mentorship – Work alongside high-performing sales pros and shadow live deals to learn what works (and what doesn’t)
- Cross-Functional Exposure – You’ll gain valuable exposure to other areas of the business. Technical consultancy, operations, and client delivery. This not only strengthens your commercial awareness but also helps you identify other areas where you might thrive long-term. Whether it’s pivoting into strategy, client solutions, or people leadership, this experience gives you the runway to explore different career pathways within a high-growth consultancy
What You\’ll Learn (That University Didn’t Teach You)
- How to actually sell—not just talk
- How to build lasting professional relationships
- How to manage rejection and bounce back stronger
- How to structure, plan, and own your pipeline
- How to pitch & present to c-suit professionals
- How to speak with CEOs and business owners with confidence
- How to become someone people want to buy from
Who We\’re Looking For
This isn’t a soft-landing job. We want people who want to win. If that’s you:
- You’re naturally confident and sharp on the phone and in person
- You’ve got strong communication skills (think persuasive & likeable, not robotic)
- You’re money-motivated—the idea of earning £50k+ in your first year excites you
- You’re competitive, coachable, and resilient—every “no” just gets you closer to a “yes”
- You want real career progression, not just a job
Perfect for:
- Recent grads (any degree) looking to break into B2B sales
- Those with a competitive edge, especially individuals with a sporting background who thrive in competitive environments and structured discipline
- Anyone who wants to build a high-performance career, fast
What\’s In It For You
- ÂŁ25k base + uncapped commission (OTE ÂŁ50k+ first year)
- Fast-track to Business Development Executive and/or Manager role
- Weekly sales training from top performers & mentors
- Exposure to high-value clients in tech, engineering, manufacturing, and science
- Office-based energy in Spinningfields, Manchester. Trust us, this is where you want to be!
- Incentives, private healthcare, and tech perks
Final Note
This isn’t a graduate scheme where you’ll sit in training for months. It’s real sales, real clients, real growth from day one. You’ll be pushed, supported, and rewarded like a future top biller.
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Business Development Associate employer: CBTax Limited
Contact Detail:
CBTax Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Associate
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the R&D tax landscape in the UK and Ireland. Understanding the basics of R&D tax credits and how they benefit businesses will give you a solid foundation to discuss with potential clients and demonstrate your knowledge during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the B2B sales and consultancy sectors. Attend industry events or webinars to connect with people who can provide insights into the role and potentially refer you to opportunities at CBTax.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your sales pitch! Since this role is heavily focused on consultative selling, rehearsing your pitch and objection handling techniques will prepare you for the real-world scenarios you'll face in the job.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your competitive spirit. Whether through sports, academic achievements, or previous sales experiences, highlight instances where you've thrived in competitive environments to align with CBTax's desire for driven candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Associate
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant skills and experiences that align with the role of a Business Development Associate. Focus on any sales experience, communication skills, and competitive achievements that demonstrate your suitability for a high-performance sales career.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your enthusiasm for the role and the company. Mention specific aspects of CBTax that excite you, such as their innovative approach to R&D tax consultancy, and explain how your background makes you a great fit for their team.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since strong communication is key for this role, ensure your application reflects your ability to convey ideas clearly and persuasively. Use engaging language and a confident tone in both your CV and cover letter.
Highlight Your Competitive Edge: Given that CBTax is looking for competitive individuals, include examples from your academic or extracurricular activities that demonstrate your drive to succeed. This could be sports achievements, leadership roles, or any instances where you thrived in a competitive environment.
How to prepare for a job interview at CBTax Limited
✨Show Your Sales Savvy
Since this role is all about B2B sales, be prepared to discuss your understanding of the sales process. Highlight any relevant experiences, even if they're from university projects or part-time jobs, where you had to persuade or negotiate.
✨Demonstrate Resilience
The job description emphasises resilience and bouncing back from rejection. Be ready to share examples of how you've handled setbacks in the past and what you learned from those experiences.
✨Research CBTax Thoroughly
Familiarise yourself with CBTax's services and their target sectors. Understanding their niche in R&D tax consultancy will show your genuine interest in the company and help you ask insightful questions during the interview.
✨Practice Your Pitch
You might be asked to pitch a product or service during the interview. Prepare a short, engaging pitch that showcases your communication skills and ability to connect with potential clients, as this is crucial for the role.